Violin Competition: Auckland String Sessions Showcase

AUCKLAND STRING SESSIONS 

With the goal of raising awareness for fine music and to inspire the highest standard of musical performance in Aotearoa, we offer a new ‘mini festival’ – the Auckland String Sessions – to take place in Auckland alongside the final stages of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. 

Presented in partnership with the University of Auckland and with programme curation from the New Zealand String Quartet’s Helene Pohl, the Auckland String Sessions will run from Wednesday 7 until Saturday 10 June. Across four action-packed days, Kiwi musicians, parents, students, and their teachers will have the chance to attend free workshops and masterclasses with some of the classical world’s finest exponents including members of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition jury panel, visiting competitors, collaborating artists such as the New Zealand String Quartet, NZTrio and associates of the University of Auckland School of Music and Chiron Group.   

AFTERNOON SHOWCASE 

This is a celebration performance to end this ‘mini festival’ of learning, sharing and musical exploration – Not to mention the perfect ‘appetiser’ to the Finale of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition later in the evening!! Starring Michael Hill judges, Bella Hristova and Piers Lane, alongside the New Zealand String Quartet, Michael Hill competitors and fellowship recipients. Also joining them on stage will be dozens of New Zealand’s own emerging musical talents – faces we can look forward to seeing on our stages for many years to come. The programme headlines Bella Hristova performing the Haydn Violin Concerto along with chamber works by Vivaldi, Leonie Holmes, Prokofiev and the sumptuous Franck Piano Quintet. Also on show is a brand new work by emerging New Zealand Composer Yvonne New, specially commissioned for this event.   

MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

New Zealand’s globally regarded Michael Hill International Violin Competition, supported by the Hill Family Foundation for Arts and Music, returns in June 2023. Considered an ‘Olympics of the violin world’, 16 of the world’s finest young violinists compete in Queenstown and then Auckland. Over eight days, a feast of spellbinding acts of virtuosity, heartstring-tugging treasures and heroic masterpieces are performed. The prestigious international judging panel selects the top three to perform in the judged grand final concert with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at Auckland’s Town Hall on 10 June to win the coveted, career-launching prize. The “Michael Hill” is recognised as one of the most sought-after international violin prizes and the careers of future musical legends are launched here in New Zealand when they go head-to-head for a prize package valued at over $100,000. To find out more about the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, head to their website: michaelhillviolincompetition.co.nz